On May 14, 1607, 104 English men and boys established the Jamestown Settlement for the Virginia Company, on a slender peninsula on the bank of the Jamestown River. It became the first long-term English settlement in North America. The settlement was built on the banks of Virginia's James River. The trips aboard the ships Susan Constant, Discovery, and the Godspeed, and the settlement itself, were sponsored by the Virginia Company of London, whose stockholders hoped to make a profit from the resources of the New World. The community suffered terrible hardships in its early years, including starvation leading to cannibalism and Indian attacks, and many hundreds died. With resupply and additional immigrants, it managed to endure, becoming America's first permanent English colony. The site for Jamestown was picked based on criteria set by the Virginia Company. The site was surrounded by water on three sides (it later became an island) and was distant from the sea, making it more easily defensible against possible Spanish attacks. The water was also deep enough that the English could tie their ships at the shoreline. The site was also not inhabited by the native population. Once the settlement location was chosen, the company members opened the Virginia Company's sealed instructions containing the list of the previously chosen council members. Each ship had sailed with a box containing the same set of instructions. The first president was Edward Maria Winfield. The other six council members were Bartholomew Gosnold, Christopher Newport, John Martin, John Ratcliffe, George Kendall, a The settlers arrived on three ships, the Susan Constant, the Godspeed, and the Discovery. Jeremy Alicock, Gentleman, (d. August 14, 1607) Captain Gabriell Archer, Gentleman, died Winter 1609-1610 John Asbie, (d. August 6, 1607) Robert Behethland, Gentleman, (d. 1689) Benjamin Best, Gentleman, (d. September 5, 1607) Thomas Bragg, Teenaged Deckhand to Christopher Newport George Bragg, Teenaged Deckhand to Christopher Newport Edward Brinto, Mason, Soldier James Brumfield, Boy Edward Brookes, Gentleman, (d. April 7, 1607) John Brookes, Gentleman Edward Browne, Gentleman, (d. August 15, 1607) William Bruster, Gentleman, (d. August 10, 1607) John Capper, Carpenter George Cassen, Labourer, (d. December 1607) Thomas Cassen, Labourer William Cassen, Labourer Ustis Clovill, Gentleman, (alternate Eustice) (d. June 7, 1607) Samuell Collier, Boy, (d. 1622) Roger Cooke, Gentleman Thomas Couper, Barber Richard Crofts, Gentleman Richard Dixon, Gentleman John Dods, Labourer, Soldier Ould Edward, Labourer Thomas Emry, Carpenter, (d. December 1607) Robert Fenton, Gentleman